Electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids.



No. 894,435. I PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

J. T. HARRIS. A ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1906.

ff@%@m7 5 @WR PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. HARRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed m a, 1906. Serial No. 325,375.

Tb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. HARRIS, a

10 the treatment of water, to remove impurities such as organic matter' and mineral salts and to produce a perfectly clear, bright and palatable water, sterilized and free from color and odor.

The apparatus comprises a vessel or conduit an electrodes therein, preferably comprising dissimilar trivalent metals capable of ielding a coagulant, specifically a' colin the water.

In the preferred construction, the appa ratus is a trough containing a' series of groups of electrodes, each group consisting ofparallel )lates, alternately .of opposite clarity and consisting, respectively, of iron and aluminum; a certain number of the plates in either or both groups are preferably replaced by a plate or plates of copper. The trough is preferably-V-sha ed at the bottom and means are rovide for periodically removing any sedlment'collecting "therein.

One form of ap aratus which has been found eflicient is s own in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the electrol tic tank, 1 the middle portion being bro en out and one end being shown in vertical longitudinal section, with a group of electrodes in elevation; Fig, 2 is a transverse vertical section through the tank and a group of electrodes thereinpand Fig. 3 is a plan view of one group ofelectrodes.

The apparatus shown comprises an electrolytic tank 1, which may be of wood, having a V -shaped bottom 2. Water ma v be introduced into one end of the tanli through pipe 3, and continuously or intermittently removed from the other through the valved outlet pipe 4. Several groups 5 of electrodes are arranged within the tan in longitudinal series, the electrodes being parallel with the sides of the tank so that water introduced at one end may flow without obstruction between the electrodes of each group. Beneath each set of electrodes is a longitudinally-disposed pipe 6,

loi' al hydroxid, for removing the impurities perforated or slotted in its upper side as shown at 7,-saidpipe being preferably in sections extending under one or more groups of electrodes, each section connected by a transverse. valved pipe 8 with a supply pipe 9. i 10 represents a baffle or partition, located 1n the lower portion of the tank between the several pipe sections 6, and preferably adjustable in the tank. This baffle serves the double {purpose of deflecting the liquid to be puri ed upwardly into contact'with the electrodes, and providing a plurality of compartments from which the sediment ma be readily removed by water admitted un er suitable pressure through the valved pipes 8.

The electrodes may consist of thin rectangular plates, alternatelyof dissimilar trivalent metals capable of yielding a coagulent, substantially as described in in ending application Serial No. 253,157, filed arch 31,

1905. They referably consist of iron and aluminum, wiich under the action of the electric current yield a voluminous, colloidal h droxid, which combines with every particl e of organic matter in the water, producing acoagulant which can be easily settled out or removed by filtration. Each group of electrodes shown comprises fourteen anodes l1 and thirteen intermediate cathodes 12,. the anodes consistin except as hereinafter described, of iron and the cathodes of aluminum. The end of each anode is perforated and projects beyond the end of the group of electrodes. A threaded iron rod 13 asses through the apertured end of each anot e and is clamped in longitudinal contact with the anodes by iron nuts 14, two of these nuts lying between and serving to space adjacent anodes. The ends of the rod 13 )ass through openings in vertical wooden p ates l5 arranged at each side'of the group of electrodes. The rodv 1'3 thusserves both as an electrical connector and a support for one end of the anodes. The ends of the cathodes 12 are also perforated and extend beyond theend of the group of electrodes. A t ireadcd iron rod 16 extends through and is clamped to the ends of the cathodes by iron nuts 17. The rod 16 passes through the wooden plates 15 and serves as a ne ative connector for the cathodes. Beneath the middle portion of each grou of electrodes'is a transverse iron rod 18 whic 1 extends through and is clamped to the wooden plates. Upon this rod is an insus the tank and are coupled, respectively, to

the iron rods 13, 16. The wooden side plates 15 of each group of electrodes rest upon wooden blocks 26 which are supported on the bottom of the tank. It will be seen that each group of electrodes, with its side plates, is a compact unit which can be removed from the tank when the pins 24 areuncoupled.

It has been found by experiment that the use of electrodes of dissimilar trivalent metals, such as iron and aluminum, results in the production of the desired coagulant in a much shorter time than when both electrodes are of iron or aluminum. It has also been found that the use of an iron rod and nuts to couple the iron elect-rodesand of an iron rod and nuts to couple the aluminum electrodes increases the rate of production and amount of coagulent, this'presumably being due to local electrolytic action be tween the dissimilar metals in contact. By employing a tank of sufficient length and several groups of electrodes therein, the water can be continuously delivered to and passed through and from the tank, carrying with it the coagulated impurities which may then be easily removed by a filter. While the electrodes of iron and-aluminum or other dissimilar trivalent metals are preferably arranged in alternation as shown, the aluminum electrodes may be otherwise distributed butitisessential that each alternate electrode should consist of aluminum. in some cases an alternating current may be employed instead ,of a direct one, each electrode then serving alternately as anode and cathode.

From time to time, and as sediment collects in the lower portion of the tank, sullicient water may be admitted through one or more of the sectional pipes 6 to remove the sediment, and to cause it to pass in suspension through the outlet pipe 4. This may be done automatically at fixed intervals.

1 have found that liquids are more efi'ectively sterilized when one or more copper plates are employed; and that such'copper plates are effective whether connected to the positive or negative terminal. in the drawmg l have indicated the two exterior cathode plates 12 as of copper, and two intermediate anode plates 11 as also of copper, but 'it will be understood that the number of such plates emploved in either or both roups of electrodes will depend upon the volhme and character of the liquid under treatment and the character of the current.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for purifying water comprising a water-main, a vessel, electrodes longitudinally disposed in said vessel and alternately of opposite polarity, said electrodes consisting ofa metal or metals capable of yielding a colloidal hydroxid, and an inlet pipe connected with said water-mails and extending beneath said electrodes and substantially arallel thereto.

2. Xpparatus for purifying water comprising a water-main, a vessel, a plurality of groups of electrodes longltudina ly disposed in said vessel, and an inlet pipe disposed beneath and parallel to each of said groups of electrodes and connected with said watermain.-

3. An electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids comprising a vessel, a lurality of groups of electrodes longitudina ly dis )osed therein, and baflles arranged in the lower portion of the vessel between said groups of electrodes, substantially as described.

4'. An electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids comprising a vessel, a )lurality of groups of electrodes longitudina ly disposed therein, an inlet pipe arranged beneath each of said groups of electrodes, and baffles in the lower portion of the vessel between said groups, substantially as described.

5. An electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids comprising electrodes of opposite polarity and consisting of a metal or metals capable of yielding a colloidal hydroxid, and auxiliary electrodes of copper, substantially as described.

6. An electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids comprising electrodes of opposite polarity and consisting of dissimilar trivalent metals capable of yielding a colloidal hydroxid, and auxiliary electrodes-of copper, substantially as described.

-7. An electrolytic apparatus for purifying liquids comprising electrodes .of op osite polarity and consisting of iron and aluminum, and auxiliaryelectrodes of copper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. HARRIS.

Witnesses:

S. \x NOBLE, SAMUEL OssonN. 

